Is Clarke's squad a glimpse into Scotland's future?

International friendly: Scotland v Iceland

When: Friday, 6 June Where: Hampden Park Kick-off: 19:45 BST

Coverage: Watch unrecorded connected BBC One Scotland and BBC Sport website & app, online matter updates, perceive connected BBC Radio Scotland

Steve Clarke is nary alien to adapting and evolving arsenic Scotland manager.

During his six years successful complaint of nan nationalist team, he has regularly changed his squad and has reached 2 awesome finals successful nan process.

A spot astatine nan World Cup is nan adjacent target for Clarke's Scotland, 27 years since their past quality astatine nan world showpiece successful 1998.

The 61-year-old has selected 7 uncapped players for this month's friends matches against Iceland and Liechtenstein arsenic they cogwheel up for their World Cup qualifying campaign, which gets nether measurement successful September.

Hibernian striker Kieron Bowie and Sassuolo left-back Josh Doig are included, arsenic are midfield trio Connor Barron of Rangers, West Ham United's Andy Irving and Lennon Miller of Motherwell.

Goalkeepers Robby McCrorie and Cieran Slicker are nan different 2 players yet to make their afloat world debuts.

On nan look of it, it appears Clarke is looking to nan future, but what tin we study from his new-look squad?

One point that stands out, successful summation to nan galore uncapped players, is nan measurement of younger faces.

Of nan 25-man squad, 12 are aged 25 aliases younger pinch their champion years stretching up of them.

Lewis Ferguson is 1 of them. The Bologna skipper continued his superb communicative connected nan continent by winning nan Coppa Italia past season, but has struggled for regular starts successful nan acheronian bluish of his country.

With Kenny McLean not included and Ryan Christie recovering from injury, he has an opportunity to liking his spot successful midfield alongside Billy Gilmour.

Max Johnston, 21, and nan returning Nathan Patterson, 23, could beryllium handed opportunities to impressment pinch Anthony Ralston - nan different right-back successful nan squad - 2nd prime astatine Celtic.

Heart of Midlothian's James Wilson and Middlesbrough's Tommy Conway subordinate Bowie arsenic nan different youthful striking options.

There is still a acquainted consciousness to nan spine of nan squad, though.

Wiser heads specified arsenic skipper Andy Robertson, John McGinn, Kieran Tierney and Serie A MVP Scott McTominay remain, arsenic Scotland activity momentum earlier nan games that matter.

Not agelong ago, Scotland had an abundance of value goalkeeping talent astatine their disposal.

Any 1 of Craig Gordon, Allan McGregor aliases David Marshall were comfortable astatine world level.

These days, nan resources betwixt nan sticks are little plentiful.

Gordon is now 42 and not included successful this squad because of injury. It seems highly improbable that moreover a man of his talent and resilience would characteristic astatine nan 2026 World Cup if Scotland were to get there.

Angus Gunn took nan gloves astatine Euro 2024, but has made high-profile errors for some nine and state and is now a free supplier aft being released by Norwich City.

That leaves nan uncapped Slicker and McCrorie, some pinch constricted acquisition astatine nine level.

Clarke must either backmost Gunn aliases put his religion successful 1 of his untested shot-stoppers.

Of nan uncapped players, Miller undoubtedly has nan astir hype astir him.

Motherwell's 18-year-old midfielder has improved astatine a singular complaint since making his elder nine debut aged conscionable 16.

He won nan PFA Scotland young subordinate of nan twelvemonth grant past period aft a play successful which he scored 4 goals and assisted 7 successful 36 games.

Miller is expected to time off Fir Park for a sizeable transportation fee, 1 which could beryllium bolstered should he make his Scotland front against Iceland aliases Liechtenstein.

"I could maybe, successful a mates of months, beryllium nan champion subordinate there," Miller said aft his first Scotland call-up successful March.

He later clarified his comments, saying nan velocity of that declare was a "mistake", but reiterating his desire to beryllium nan champion subordinate he perchance tin be.

Short of confidence, he is not.

Bowie is different who will fancy making an impact, should nan opportunity arise.

Quick, beardown and imposing, he scored six goals successful his first play for Hibs aft recovering from a hamstring wounded sustained playing for Scotland Under-21s.

"Any clip I watched nan Under-21s he ever stood out," Clarke said erstwhile naming his squad. "He's big, beingness and beardown - pinch bully attributes to his game.

"Going into nan summer, you've sewage Lawrence Shankland and Kevin Nisbet, I cognize what they tin bring, truthful it was conscionable to person a look astatine thing a small spot different and spot if we tin grow nan excavation of players.

"You're looking for personification to drawback your eye."